Helping others is easy when the reward is love and appreciation. But what about those times in the workplace where giving to others threatens our own sense of security?

The workplace can be fiercely competitive. For fear of losing a promotion to another employee, even losing a job, we would pause before helping someone else succeed. The temptation is to close up and guard our own space. Instead of a giving spirit, the office culture teaches us to throw up shields and protect ourselves.

A former boss used to say to me, “Work me out of a job.” Now, that’s assurance. As a young man, that statement gave me confidence in my boss. He not only wanted to keep growing himself, he was offering to help me succeed, too.

I now own my own company and am a consultant to other people, other companies. The temptation now is to withhold information out of fear that my clients may learn too much and no longer need what I do. When such doubts surface, I remind myself of why I’m in business. A consultant does not exist to guard knowledge—but to help others to it. If helping others is my mission statement, I must consult with all of my heart and soul, and hold nothing back.

Still I admit that it’s difficult at times to make the right decisions. At times I clearly need to avoid a situation in which someone is trying to take advantage of me. Overall, however, the answers are never as black and white as I might hope, even after much prayer. At those times, I must make a decision on faith and step into the risk.

A life of giving is far more rewarding than a life spent protecting whatever space I may want to own. Yes, at times the risks are high. Yes, others have taken advantage of me. The issue, however, is less about being hurt than answering what will define my life.

Remember Philippians 2:13? “. . . for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”

God is at work—making us more like Christ. But God is not only at work in us, He works through us . . . if we let Him. When we are Christ-like in our dealings with fellow employees and management, we allow God to work through us.

How will we define our lives at work? Will a harsh, competitive business culture define us? Let us pray that God will give us wisdom to move beyond being moved by the fears and worries of the workplace . . . and allow God to define our lives.